SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Despite taking the doubles point, and receiving singles wins from senior Hermont Legaspi and freshman Mark Keki, Sacramento State fell at home to Santa Clara, 4-3, at the campus tennis courts.
The Hornets, who continue to use four freshmen in the singles lineup, could have just as easily won this match as two of the singles losses came in three sets. In fact, with the score tied at 3-3, freshman Rudolfs Aksenoks was locked in a three set match with Nick Cmager, but eventually fell, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Aksenoks was just a couple bounces from winning the match in straight sets, but dropped the second set breaker.
Sacramento State fell to 1-5 this season. However, the Hornets were not that far off winning four of those matchups, which includes close losses to San Francisco (twice), Grand Canyon and today's defeat. The victory allowed Santa Clara to improve to 2-1.
Each of the Hornets' first six matches have come at home, and the team will continue the season-opening homestand on March 5 vs. Saint Mary's at 1 p.m.
The Hornets opened by winning the doubles point, getting victories from the freshmen tandems of Keki/Liam Liles at No. 1 (6-1) and Aksenoks/Jan Silva at No. 3 (6-1).
Michael Vizcarra lost his match at No. 4 in straight sets before Keki won at No. 2 by a 6-1, 6-3 score to give Sacramento State a 2-1 lead. After the Hornets' Liles (7-6, 6-1 at No. 3) and Silva (5-7, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 6) lost, Santa Clara found itself with a 3-2 lead before Legaspi won in straight sets (7-5, 7-5 at No. 1) to things at 3-3.
Santa Clara 4, Sacramento State 3
Singles competition
1. Legaspi, Hermont (SAC) def. Dominic Barretto (SCU-M) 7-5, 7-5
2. Keki, Mark (SAC) def. Mann Shah (SCU-M) 6-1, 6-3
3. Arthur Neuhaus (SCU-M) def. Liles, Liam (SAC) 7-6, 6-1
4. Guillaume Dalmasso (SCU-M) def. Vizcarra, Michael (SAC) 6-0, 6-1
5. Nick Cmager (SCU-M) def. Aksenoks, Rudolfs (SAC) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
6. Santiago Hinojosa (SCU-M) def. Silva, Jan (SAC) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Liles, Liam/Keki, Mark (SAC) def. Mann Shah/Dominic Barretto (SCU-M) 6-1
2. Legaspi, Hermont/Vizcarra, Michael (SAC) vs. Guillaume Dalmasso/Arthur Neuhaus (SCU-M) 4-2, unfinished
3. Aksenoks, Rudolfs/Silva, Jan (SAC) def. Nick Cmager/Santiago Hinojosa (SCU-M) 6-1
Match Notes:
Santa Clara 2-1
Sacramento State 1-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,2,3,6,1,5)
